LABMY CH38

Wei Zhenge’s growth far exceeded everyone’s expectations. Just like in the original plot, he rose like a shining star, gradually becoming a widely recognized name.

The uncrowned king of the jade gambling industry and a renowned designer in the jewelry world.

However, he grew far faster than the storyline intended. With a cheat-like advantage and the full support of the Zhenge Group, he avoided nearly all the career setbacks he was supposed to encounter in the plot.

In just a few years, Zhenge Group had long expanded beyond the mobile phone industry, penetrating various sectors with its vast resources and solid backing. Under such conditions, those temporary failures Wei Zhenge was supposed to experience never even happened.

As the chief designer and owner of a well-known jewelry company, Wei Zhenge appeared on TV for an interview when he established a scholarship foundation to help children. At that moment, a translucent screen emerged from the crystalline remains that the system had been fiddling with.

A large checkmark slowly appeared under the “Achievement” section.

The system finally felt a bit relieved, but soon after, a strange smile appeared on its little cat face. If anyone could see it, they’d witness a cat showing a gloating expression for the first time in history.

Because the system wasn’t the only one reacting to the TV interview.

In a filthy, foul-smelling room, a man whose entire body was paralyzed except for his head lay on a yellowed bed. The stench of urine and feces filled the air, as the man had long been left to rot in his own waste.

The room was dark and damp, with mold growing on the walls due to moisture. Only a sliver of light entered through a high, narrow window. Though still alive, the man was no better than a corpse.

Suddenly, the door creaked open. The person who entered gagged violently upon smelling the stench and refused to step further in.

From the doorway, Wei En tossed a magazine onto the paralyzed man’s body. “Look, your precious son got on TV for his charity work.”

“Ten billion. A whole ten billion. He’s willing to spend it on kids he’s never even met but won’t spare a single penny for his own father.”

Wei Chengye’s dull eyes flickered slightly, and when he finally spoke, he repeated the same words: “Kill me. Kill me. Kill me.”

Wei En sneered, “Kill you? No way.”

“How could I bear the crime of killing my own father?” He laughed coldly. “Besides, your beloved son said as long as I keep you alive, he’ll send me two thousand yuan every month.”

“Two thousand. For someone like me now, that’s not a small amount.”

Wei Chengye had become paralyzed after falling from a building out of rage when his wife fled abroad with the family’s last bit of money. Wei En once thought Jiang Xuelan loved him as her son, but in the end, that woman only loved herself.

Initially, Wei En had abandoned Wei Chengye in a nursing home, paying for only ten days before disappearing.

Although Wei En owned a small company, it was nowhere near the peak of the Wei family’s glory. He could still make a living, but watching Wei Zhenge rise step by step on the path he had always dreamed of filled his heart with growing resentment.

That resentment eventually cost him everything in the jade gambling world.

Loss after loss, until he was left with nothing.

One wrong step led to another, and by the time Wei Zhenge found him, Wei En had already fallen into the flesh trade, selling his body to survive.

He still vividly remembered what Wei Zhenge said when he found him:

“For Wei Chengye, death would be too easy.”

“He’s paralyzed. Living is the true torture. But the nursing home was taking too good care of him. I didn’t like that.”

“So, how about I leave him to you? Just keep him alive.”

At the time, Wei En mocked him, “No matter how he treated you in the past, he’s still your father. Even when he’s paralyzed, you won’t let him go?”

But Wei Zhenge’s expression was cold and filled with deep hatred.

“I’ve already investigated how my mother died.”

“She was three months pregnant with Wei Chengye’s child when he personally pushed her down the stairs.”

“So tell me, how could I ever let him go?”

Wei Zhenge’s expression softened slightly as he added, “I’m not telling you this to justify myself. I just want you to understand how I expect you to ‘take care’ of him.”

The memory ended there.

On the filthy bed, Wei Chengye begged, “No matter how I treated Wei Zhenge over the years, I never wronged you.”

“Please, let me die.”

“Two thousand yuan a month… with your capabilities, do you really care about that money? Kill me. Just kill me.”

In response, Wei En only sneered and shut the door behind him.

“Capabilities?”

Because of jade gambling, he owed massive debts. Now, he had fallen to the point of lying under the bloated, greasy bodies of men who disgusted him to the core.

Why would he refuse free money?

…

In the office, Jian Yuanbai listened to the system’s long-winded explanation with confusion.

“So, what you’re saying is, because Little Pillow grew too quickly, many conflicts in the plot never happened, which means he never said the lines he was supposed to.”

“Even though the ‘Long AoTian Achievement’ was technically completed, it’s still considered incomplete because he hasn’t said those lines to the right people. Is that it?”

The system smugly responded, “Bingo.”

By now, it had been two years since Wei Zhenge graduated from university. The plot had already shattered like a wild, runaway horse.

Take the three heroines who were supposed to be part of the story, for example. Because Jian Yuanbai confirmed his relationship with Wei Zhenge early on, the two women who were supposed to develop ambiguous relationships with him during college had now become nothing more than acquaintances.

Jian Yuanbai felt troubled.

“After all these years, Little Pillow’s social anxiety has improved a lot, but he still can’t handle saying harsh lines in public.”

“Besides…”

“Some of the people you mentioned are ones Little Pillow has never even met. If he suddenly shows up and says those lines, wouldn’t they just find him insane?”

The system sighed, “That’s what happens when you don’t follow the plot. Now the storyline is so broken, even the plot’s own mother wouldn’t recognize it.”

Jian Yuanbai also sighed, “If I remember correctly, the script you gave me was flawed from the beginning, right?”

Both the system and Jian Yuanbai fell silent for a moment.

Then, the system played its ultimate card:

“If you can’t complete it perfectly, your performance score will be deducted. And heavily.”

“And then, you will be deported and replaced with a host who can do it.”

Deported?

No way.

Jian Yuanbai righteously declared, “As the host, this is my duty and responsibility. I’ll contact them right away.”

Following the list provided by the system, he created a table and called his assistant, “Contact these people and see when they are available. Ask if they can make time for a meal together.”

Jian Yuanbai emphasized, “All of them, on the same day.”

“Let me know when you’ve arranged it.”

The assistant took the printed list. His professional integrity prevented him from asking any questions. “Understood, Mr. Jian.”

When the assistant informed him that the arrangements were complete, Jian Yuanbai rushed home, eager to share the news with Wei Zhenge. But instead of saying it outright, he mysteriously teased, 

“Little Pillow, come with me somewhere tomorrow. I have a gift for you.”

Wei Zhenge’s eyes lit up, and he agreed without hesitation, “Okay.”

Time flew by, and the next day, in an exquisitely decorated private dining room, sat a group of people from different social standings and backgrounds, many of whom didn’t even know each other.

They exchanged glances, no one speaking, all feeling somewhat uneasy. After all, with their statuses, they normally wouldn’t even qualify to dine with Jian Yuanbai, let alone sit together.

The door to the room opened, and everyone stood up in unison.

“Mr. Jian.”

“Mr. Jian.” “Mr. Jian.”

One after another, they greeted him respectfully.

Wei Zhenge, standing beside Jian Yuanbai, was full of confusion. Jian Yuanbai noticed his bewilderment and pulled him into a smaller private room within the suite.

“You can call them in one by one and say what you need to say, or you can address them all at once.”

“I even prepared this smaller room for you, worried that your social anxiety might make it hard for you to speak.”

Jian Yuanbai proudly added, “Thoughtful, right?”

The mention of “social anxiety” immediately made Wei Zhenge realize what Jian Yuanbai was trying to do. He pressed his lips together and swallowed the curse words that almost slipped out.

With a dark expression, he turned to leave.

Jian Yuanbai quickly chased after him, “What’s wrong, darling? Was my preparation not enough?”

Inside the private dining room, the guests watched in bewilderment as the two entered the smaller room, then saw the sharp and handsome young man storm out with a cold expression, while Mr. Jian frantically followed.

Jian Yuanbai caught up to Wei Zhenge just as he was about to leave the restaurant and pleaded, “Don’t you like my gift?”

Wei Zhenge took a deep breath, reminding himself that this situation was partly his fault. He hadn’t made it clear to Jian Yuanbai that he had no interest in saying cringe-worthy, over-the-top lines. Jian Yuanbai was wrong, but so was he.

After repeating this to himself several times, Wei Zhenge prepared to explain.

At that moment, the system spoke in Jian Yuanbai’s mind, “He actually wants to do it, but he’s embarrassed. You need to give him an excuse, make him feel like he’s doing this for your sake.”

“Think about it, wouldn’t you feel embarrassed if others found out you enjoy watching someone act all edgy and dramatic?”

Jian Yuanbai nodded in agreement, “You’re right.”

Just as Wei Zhenge was about to speak, he heard Jian Yuanbai say, “I’m sorry. I didn’t know you didn’t like it.”

“I just really want to see you say those lines. I think it’s so cool.”

Wei Zhenge’s face turned even darker as he stood in the small room. When the first guest walked in, he stiffly said,

“You rejected my application to join the Jewelry Association. That was your short-sightedness.”

“In the future, the entire association will pay the price for underestimating me.”

The president of the Jewelry Association was stunned by these words and quickly responded, “Oh no, Mr. Wei, I never looked down on you.”

“It would be an honor for us if you joined the association. You are a rising star in the jewelry world!”

Observing that Wei Zhenge’s face was still dark, the president panicked and changed his words, “No, you’re not a star. You’re the sun! A blazing, radiant sun!”

“Mr. Wei, do you wish to join the Jewelry Association? I’d be more than thrilled!”

Without hesitation, Wei Zhenge coldly replied, “Not joining.”

The president’s smile froze for a moment. If you’re not joining, why did you say all that? Are you insane?

After being kicked out just two sentences in, the president felt like he’d been called in just to be insulted. This guy was seriously mentally ill.

No, it was chuunibyou-syndrome-level mental illness.

However, the next day, when the president received an exquisite and valuable gift from Zhenge Group, he couldn’t help but smile as he admired the gift box.

A little madness like this… was actually quite welcome.

He might not be a doctor, but he certainly had a heart that cared for those suffering from chuunibyou syndrome.